Machine for applying tape to sheet units



Aug. 16, 1932. L. K. BUTLER MACHINE FOR APPLYING TA PE TO SHEE IT UNITS Filed April 5; 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet Aug. 16, 1932. L. K. BUTLER MACHINE FOR APPLYING TAP E TO SHEET UNITS Filed April 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 III! I Patented Aug. 16, 1932 UNITED s'ra'rss r new race LELAND K. BUTLER, OF MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR, lBY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, T0 EXCEL TAPING MACHINE 00., OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, A. GOR- PORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS Application filed April 5,

This invention relates to a machine for applying reinforcing tape to sheets of material, such as the uppers ofshoesfand more particularly to the heel seams or back seams thereof, and in some aspects comprises an improvement upon and an adaptation of the apparatus disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 267,714, filed on even date herewith. V

The machine provided by the, present invention is particularly useful in applying adhesive reinforcing tape to a portion of an upper which has a, substantially concavoconvex curvature with a seam located at its back. For example, certain types of uppers which are well known'to'the trade are formed by sewing two sheets of material, such as satin, with the body portions of the sheets substantially face toface at one side of the curved seam and with narrow marginal portions lying face to face at the opposite side of the seam. The adjoining face portions of the sheet are then turned so that they are spaced from each other to' define the outer portion of the rear'of the shoe, while the faces of the sheet which were originally out most. are turned inwardly and the narrow marginal portions which adjoin the seam are flattened back against theface portions and held in place with the adhesive tape which also serves to reinforce this portion of the upper.

The present invention permits the upper to be turned preliminary to the application of the tape to the seam'so that the tape and seam are united while occupying the relative positions which they are to retain during actual use, the tape-applying means preferably being designed to operate continuously to press the tape smoothly upon the same. Suitable guiding means are arranged in conjunction with thetape-applying means so that the upper is turned inorder to permit the application of the tape in the position which it will finally occupy when the upper portion is used in a shoe; for example,.when a satin or similar sheet unit is to be reinforced, I provide guide means arranged to lie between the body portions of the 'sheet'at a point adjoining the seamand to spread these 1928. Serial .No. mm.

portions so thatthey extend in opposite di rections. Atthe sametime I provide a pointed ridge element which separates the narrow marginal portions of the sheets and tends to, spread them apart, directing them outwardly. into substantial'parallelism with the main portion of the respective sheets as the work passes between the juxtaposed tape-applying rolls. These rolls cooperate with thegu ide means in holding theupper properly-turned so that the reinforcing seam is upon the inner or concave side of the same while the tape is being applied thereto. When'leather uppers having similarly disposed back seams areto be reinforced with tape, similar guide means may be used in conjunction with a machine of this character or other suitable guide means may be used to perform an equivalent function. 7; r T In'the accompanying drawings,which illustrate by way of example certain'embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 isva front elevational view of a portion of the improved tape applying machine; A

Fig. 2 is the same; v

Fig. 8 isa top view of a assembly shown in Fig.2; I

Fig. tie a detail sectional view showing one form-of tape-applying rolls Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4: showing anend elevation" of a portion of portion of the another type ofrolls;

I 6 is an elevational detail showing an optional form of guiding means; V

F i g. 7 is a section on line 77 of Fig. 6; 1 Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the tapeapplying means showing-- positions of 'the upper in relation to the same;

Fig; 9 is an elevational detail showing a modified form of guide particularly suitable for use with leather uppers; I i

Fig. 10 is a'section on line1010 of Fig. 9; and V Fig. 11 is a "plan view of a guide for sheet units, such as satin upper portions.

A machine of the type exemplified in the accompanying drawings preferably comprises a frame, designated in general bythe numeral 1,'which may be mounted upon any suitable table or support. One end of frame 1 preferably supports a train of gears, designated in general by the numeral 2. This gear train is driven from any suitable source of power by a belt 3 passing over a pulley 4 which is provided with a weighted rimb that not only comprises a flywheel but also forms a hand wheel to permit manual movement of the'parts inorder to permit accurate adjustment of the machine for the insertion of new work or any other desired purpose. Mounted above frame 1 is a transverse shaft 7 whichis shaft 7 is carried upon an upper roll support 12 which is pivotally connected'tothe frame opposite end.

ladjoining the gear :train', as designated by numeral 13. The overhanging end of shaft 7 opposite the gear 8-carries a roll 10 for pressing the sheet material against the adhesive tape. The weight of the support 12 as well as any suitable spring, not shown, may

serve to press the roll 10 downwardly toward a lower tape-applying-roll'20 which is rotatably mounted-upon the frame 1. Roll 20 is mounted upon" a shaft 11 which extends through frame 1 and carries the gear 9 at its A depending box-like portion 15 of support 1-2 may interfit with the upstanding projection 16 upon frame 1 to serve asa guide for the support. It is evident that the loose meshing engagement of the gear 8with the adjoining driving gear 9 cooperates with the pivotal mounting of support 12 to permit the rolls 10 and 20 to separate. to allow the inter- 7 position of sheet material and tapetherebetween. I 1

A bracket 30 extends outwardly from frame 1 and supports a suitable axle 31 upon which'a tape roll 32 may be located. Preferably this roll may be formed of tape that is coated with a permanently plastic adhesive which may be pressed into engageme'nt with a sheetat ordinary temperature. The rollflj32 preferably is-surrounded by a suitable guard 35' comprising opposite plates 33 and 34. One of these plates, i. e. plate 34, is fixed to bracket 30 and preferably carries a roller 36 about which the tape run may be turned, this roll preferably being located in substantially thesame horizontal plane-as the axis ofroll 20, Fig. 2, and thetape run extending there from about the lower portion of the latter roll so that it is wrapped about a considerable peripheral portionof the same to ensure a firm frictional engagement-between this roll and the tape. Plate 34 carries a curved flange 37 surrounding a peripheral portion of the tape roll, Figs. land 3. The removable plate 83 preferably is provided with a set screw 68 engaging axle 31to permit the ready removal of plate 33 and the replacement of the tape roll when necessary.

' Adjoining'the juxtaposedportions of rolls 10 and 20 is a suitable guide member 40.

which is carried by a support 41 mounted for transverse adjustment in relation to frame 1.

'Member 4O is provided with an opening or slot 41 suitably dimensioned to receive the tape and to hold the same properly positioned in relation to the rolls. Member also carries an upwardly extending vsheet guiding.

j tralridge 45 which-terminates in an. upwardly rotated by the gear 8 whichis' loosely meshed with an adjoining gear 9 of the train2. The

projecting point 46 and the height of which is. gradually reduced-as it approaches the juxtaposed portions of the rollers. Ateither side of the ridge 45 are grooves 47 which maybe provided with openings 48 to permit the edges of the-marginal portions of the sheet to be visible to the operator of the machine. -O utwardly of grooves 45 are the curved'sheet metal "portions 48which provide smooth rounded surfaces for engagement with the body portions of the sheets. It is evident that the grooves 47 and ridge 45'merge into'a curved surface atthe end of the member 40 adjoining the outlet of slot 41. The edge of this'curved surface of member '40 may be'provided with a centrally disposed'notch 49 aligned with ridge 'Mounted upon the roll support 12 is a bracket 50 having a central extension 51 which curves downwardly in-juxtaposition tothe periphery of roll 10, this member having a ridge-like face portion which is adapted to engage and-spread the juxtaposed sheets. Member 50 also has a pair of depending portions 58which curve downwardly and irearwardly at either side of roll 10, the ele-' ments 53 being designed to engage: the sheet portions they leave the tape-applying means. Preferably the periphery of roll 10 is slightly concave and the peripheryof roll 20 is complementarily formed, i. e. slightly convex. The face of this roll may have a central groove 18 formed thereon, as show in Figs. 1 and 5.

A suitable scraper 55 is secured to support 12 and curves downwardly and inwardly toward the roll 10'so that its edge is disposed close to the back of that roll; A suitable guard 65 is arranged about the front of roll 20 to prevent accidental engagement of foreign objects with the adhesive face of the tape wrapped therearound. This guard is normally held in position by a spring 66 having urved portion engaging a nub 67 upon the guard, it being evident that a pull upon the guard will cause the nub to engage the curved spring end with a cam-like action to release the guard and to permit the same to swing down away from roll 20, thus facilitating the feeding of a new run of tape about the lower roll and into the slot 41.

In the operation of a machine ofthis character, the tape run is wrappdaround the lower portion of roll 20 and fed through the slot 41 in member 40. The driving means is then started so that the .roll'lO is driven in the direction indicated by the curved arrow of Fig. 2. The sheet unit may then be engaged with guide members .0, the pointed end of this member projecting between the marginal portions of the sheets adjoining the seam, these marginal portions passing into the grooves 47 at either side of the ridge and being'spread as the ridge and grooves decrease in depth. The openings 48 permit the marginal portions of the sheets to be visible to the operator so that she may hold the upperproperly centeredas it passes to the tape-applying rolls. The lower end of theridge-like spreader 51 is adapted to engage the body portions of the sheets to ensure the spreading of the same. It is thus evident that the marginal portions of the sheets and thebody portions thereof are bent outwardly away from the seam substantially into parallelism with eachother as they pass between the rolls 10 and 20; thus the sheet unit assumes a concavo-oonvex curvature with the marginal portions upon the convex side.

Due to the curvatures of the faces of rolls 10 and 20 the unit is turned as it passes between the rolls so that it becomes concave upon the side to which the tape is being applied. Fig. 8 shows in full lines the position of the upper portion as it is engaged with the guide means, and in the dotted line position shows the same as it is turned. The depend ing elements 53 engage the opposite {sheet portions in order to retain the same in their turned position and to overcome any tendency of the upper to spring back into its original shape. 7 The guard 55 is arranged to prevent tape from clinging to the upper roll 10 and to continue to be wrappedaround the same when there is no sheet material between the upper and lower rolls. Fig. l shows a modified arrangement of rolls wherein the lower roll 20-is provided witha comparatively wide groove2l which. isadapted to apply the adhesive tape to comparatively wide' folded-over marginal portions of the :upper sheets and to press the edges of the tape firmly against these portions as well as against the adjoining body portions of the sheets, as shown. v

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate an optional form of guide means which is more particularly suit able for use with. leather upper sheets that are ordinarily characterized by having much narrower marginal portions adjoining the back seam than is common with the satin or similar upper elements. The guide member 140 shown in Fig. 6 may have a lower portion with a slot 141 similar to the guide slot 41 of member l0 described above. The up- 1 standingportion of member 140,- however, is

guide member particularly suitable for use with leather upper portions, this member comprising a tape-guiding slot 241 with a small metal block 242 thereabove having a shallow central groove 243 designed toreceive the leather seam and to center the same in relation to the rolls.

It is obvious that a machine of this charac' ter is adapted to receive sheet units or the like which are formedto have a concave-convex shape and to turn the same, applying reinforcing tape to the seam as turned so that the tape and sheet material are united when in the relative positions they will permanently occupy in the shoe, the use of rolls for this purpose permitting continuous smooth application of the tape and avoiding the puckering or pulling of the same. In this connection it may be noted that the diameters of the rolls 10 and 20 may be suitably proportioned tovary the peripheral speeds of the rolls 10 and '20.

Thus, for example, in applying tape to back seams I have found it advantageous to drive the upper roll at a slightly higher peripheral speed than the lower roll.- While the guide means shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and 8 and 9 are particularly suitable for use with leather, the guide means shown in Figs. 1,2, 3, etc.

may also be used with leather back seams,

the particular guide means used depending upon the class of work and the individual preference of the operator in many cases. The notches 4:9 and 14:9 in the guide means are particularly desirable for use with leather upper sheets, since they eliminate any tendency of the leather ridge formed by the backseam to catch guide.

I claim: I i l 1. In a machine of the class described, .a pair of rolls for applying ad-hesively coated tape to a sheet unit, one of said rolls having a convexly curved peripheral face, the other roll having a concavely curved peripheral face, means for guiding tape between juxtaposed'portions of the rolls, and a guiding element arranged to direct a seamed sheet upon the inner edge of the unit between the rolls, said element having a ridge to engage marginal portions of the element adjoining the seam, said guide element being juxtaposed to the roll with the concavelv curved face.

2. In a machine of the class described, a pair of rolls for applying adhesively face, the other roll having a conc avely curved peripheral face, and means for guiding tapebetween'juxtaposed portions ofthe rolls, a guiding element curvedin thegeneral direc-, tion of the second-named roll and being arranged to direct a seamed sheet unit between the rolls, and a spreadingmember between the guiding element and the second-named roll and arranged to spread sheet portions of the unit; V

3. In a machine of class described, a pair of rolls for applying adhesively coated tape to a sheet unit, one of said rolls having a convexlycurved peripheral face, the other roll having a complenientarily curved peripheral face, means for guiding tape between juxtaposed portions of the roll, and a guiding element'having a general curvature in'the direction of the periphery of the secondnamed roll and being arranged to direct a seamed sheet unit between the rolls, said guiding element comprising a rib having a pointed outer endto engage marginal portions of the unit adjoining the seam.

4. In a machine of the class describecha pair of rolls for applying adhesively coated tape to a sheet unit, one of said rolls having a convexly curved peripheral face, the other roll having a complementarily curved peripheral face, and means for guiding tape between juxtaposed portions of'the rolls, a guiding element arranged to direct a seamed sheet unit between'the rolls, said element having a ridge to'engage marginal portions ofthe element adjoining the seam, said ridge decreasing in height at the end adjoining the rolls, and-sight openings at either side of the ridge. 7

5, In a machine of the class described, a

pair of rolls for applying a'dhesively coated tape to a sheet unit, one of said rolls having a convexly curved peripheral face, the other roll having 'a complementarily curved peripheral face, means for guiding tape between uxtaposed' portions of the rolls, a guiding element arranged to direct aseained sheet unit between the rolls, a spreading member adjoining the guiding element and arranged to spread sheet portions of the unit apart, and elements disposed at either side of the rolls to engage sheetportions which extend laterally from the rolls.

6. Ina machine of the class described, a pair of juxtaposed rolls. means for supplying tape between the rolls, and guide means for sheets which are stitched substantially face to face, said guide means being adapted to spread apart the sheets adjoining the seam whereby they tend to extend in opposite directions respectivelyfrom the seam as they pass between the rolls, and means adapted to spread marginal portions of the sheets which spread apart the sheets adjoining the seam whereby they tend to extend in opposite directions respectivelyfrom the seam as they pass between the rolls, and other means adapted to spread marginal portions of the sheets which project beyond the seam back toward the body portions of the sheets,

said means including a tapered ridge inclined downwardly toward the portions of the rolls which adjoin each other. v

8.-In a machine of the class described; a pair of juxtaposed rolls, means for supplying tape between the rolls, and means to'receive units comprising sheets which are stitched substantially face to face, said means being adapted to'spread apart the sheets adjoin ing the seam whereby they tend to extend in opposite directions respectively from the seam as they pass between the rolls, and guide means adapted to engage marginal portions of the sheets which adjoin the seam back toward the body portions of the sheets, said means including a tapered ridge member inclined downwardly toward the portions of the rolls which adjoin each other, and sight openings at either side of said ridge, whereby the sheet units may be accurately fedto the rolls.

9( In a machine of the class described, a pair of juxtaposed rolls for applying adhesively coated tape to a sheet unit,,meansfor directing tape to the bite of the rolls, a guide element to direct a seamed sheet unit between the rolls, said element having a ridge to engage marginal portions of the sheet element ad oining the bite of'the rolls, a spreader dis ridge adjoining one of the juxtaposed rolls and. having a general curvature in the direc tion of the curvature of'the'periphery of that 7 roll, said ridge decreasing in height at the end adjoining the bite of the rolls, a spreader disposed between the curved ridge and the adjoining roll, said spreader having a portion to engage the body portions of the sheets adjoining the seam as; the sheet element passes into the bite of the rolls.

10. In a machine of the class described, a pair of juxtaposed rolls for applying adhesively coated tape to a sheet unit means for directingtape to the bite of the rolls, a guide element to direct a seamed sheet unit between th rolls, said element having a ridge to engage marginal portions of the sheet element adjoining the seam,the apex portion of said ridge adjoining one-of the juxtaposed rolls and having a general curvature in the ,direction of the curvature of the periphery of V adjoining the seam,

. and having a general tlon of the curvature of the said one of the rolls, said ridge merging into a substantially flat surface of the guide element adjoining the bite of the rolls, and a spreader adapted to engage the body portions of the sheets adjoining their seam, sald spreader being disposed between said substantially flat portion of the guide element and the adjoining roll.

11. In a machine of the class described, a pair of juxtaposed rolls for applying adhesively coated tape to a sheet unit, means for directing tape to the bite of the rolls, a guide element to direct a seamed sheet unit between the rolls, said element having a ridge to engage marginal portions of the sheet element adjoining the seam, the apex portion of said ridge being disposed adjoining one of the juxtaposed rolls, said ridge merging into a substantially flat surface of the guide element adjoining the bite of the rolls,-a spreader adapted to engage the body portions of the sheets adjoining their seam, said spreader being disposed between said substantially flat portion of the guide element and the adjoining roll, and elements disposed at either side of the juxtaposed portions of the roll and adapted to engage the body portions of the sheets in order to assist the turning of the sheet unit as it passes between the rolls.

12. In a machine of the class described, a pair of juxtaposed rolls for applying adhesively coated tape to a sheet unit, means for directing tape tothe bite of the rolls, a guide element to direct a seamed sheet unit between the rolls, said element having a ridge to engage marginal portions of the sheet element the apex portion of said of the juxtaposed rolls curvature in the direcperiphery of said one of the rolls, said ridge decreasing in height at the end adjoining the bight of the ridge adjoining one rolls and Inerging'into a substantially flat surface of the guide element adjoining the bight of the rolls, and elements disposed at either side of the juxtaposed portions of the rolls to aid in the turning of a sheet unit passing between the latter.

directing tape to the bite of the rolls, a guide way which is inclined brought into juxtaposition as they 3. In a machine of the class described, a this 23d y of March, 1928- ridge inclined downwardly toward the bite of the rolls, said ridge being adapted to engage jt 1e marginal portions of a sheet unit adjoining the seam of the same.

l5. A machine of the class described comi prising a pair of superimposed rolls, a guide cement adjoining the bite of the rolls, said guide element having an upwardly directed channel to receive a ribbon from the lower portion of the periphery of the lower roll and to direct the same to the bite of the rolls, said guide element also providing a guidetoward the channel in the direction of the bite of the rolls, whereby the tape and a seamed sheet unit may be pass between the rolls.

16. A machine of the class described comprising a pair of substantially parallel shafts,

ing juxtaposed, a tape guide adjoining one of the rolls and being arranged to su ply tape to the bite of the rolls, common rive means for said shafts effectin the rotation of the shafts at speeds which have a predetermined ratio to each other, the ratio of the diameter of the roll remote from the guide to the diameter of the roll adjoining the guide being somewhat greater than the ratio, of the speeds of the corresponding shafts, whereby the roll remote from the guide has a peripheral speed slightly greater than that of the other roll.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts,

7 LELAND K. BUTLER. 

